Daddy's Day Job

September 2nd - This was completely unposed!!

Refresher

I haven't been practicing up for my motorcycle license test this summer. Why? Well, er, uh, I dropped the motorbike at the beginning of the season and it's been out of commission all summer.

We finally got it fixed in time for the end of the season. Shawn and I went on a practice run yesterday. Thanks to mom for watching the kids for us!

I actually did better than I have previously! Didn't drop the darn thing anyway. I did stall a couple times and nearly panicked after making a sharp turn into the gas station cuz they had a speed bump right at the entrance. But I made decent recoveries and became quite confident with my driving.

I prefer the idea of taking my test in Vulcan because it's smaller and, hopefully, less intense. I'm excited to finally get this done!

Kids in Church

Today, Taylor seriously impressed me with his Sacrament meeting skills. He sat pretty quietly, distracted with books and toys.

Averi, however, has taken his place in the you-can't-contain-me department.

He's On The Phone...

I was talking to my mother on speakerphone this evening when Taylor insisted he be able to speak with her. He took the proffered phone and proceeded to tell Omi about his new "star light."

This wasn't enough, however.

Taylor took the phone to his room so that he might show it to her!

Daddy Takes the Kids to the Zoo

September 18 at the Calgary Zoo


Avi looks like a little street-walker at the beginning of this!! ;)

Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam

I've been meaning to catch this for some time...

Taylor's night-time routine consists of saying a prayer and singing some songs. I've been paraphrasing The Book of Mormon a bit to him as well, but I think I'd do better by getting some child-friendly books at the church bookstore.

Anyhoo, I started singing Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam some time ago, in the hopes of familiarizing him with it before he enters Primary in January. No, I can't believe he'll be in Primary...

One night, he just started to sing along with me. You can't imagine my excitement! He's somewhat tone-deaf, but hey, he's barely 3!

Taylor Says...

Taylor: I want a drink of water.

Me: Taylor, you need to ask nicely.

Taylor: Nicely.

Eierkuchen

Eierkuchen is a German breakfast dish that resembles its French counterpart, crêpes. Literally translated, it means "egg cake" which is very apt considering the primary ingredient is eggs (then comes flour and milk ;) ).

The consistency of the batter is thicker than crêpes, though thinner than pancakes. The reason for this is because bits of fruit are typically added, which requires more viscosity.

My mom has long since given up adding bits of apple to our traditional family breakfast of Eierkuchen. As kids, we much preferred them plain.

Traditional toppings include honey or jam or applesauce, but being of the syrup-belongs-on-everything variety, I usually use this instead. I think Mom believes I'm corrupting centuries of tradition. ;)

After the topping of choice has been slathered on, the Eierkuchen is then rolled up elegantly with knife and fork and appropriate-sized pieces shoveled voraciously into one's mouth.

This is one of those family traditions that I'm eager to continue with my own family. Like all grand recipes passed down through generations, however, this one does not have a set recipe. It's all done by feel and some batters turn out better than others.

I'm not this type of person at all.

I need everything spelled out for me, then I can potentially experiment.

Regardless, here's some Eierkuchen for you to enjoy.... :P

(Yes, that's my kitchen floor... Best lighting at the time.)

Toddlers and Food

I've been meaning for some time now to compose a magnificent post on weaning babies for Mommy 4-1-1. Unfortunately, I have nothing worthwhile to recommend. Except, perhaps, horror stories.

Avi has always been much more difficult than Taylor in regards to behaviour during mealtimes. Her worst, and most long-lasting, habit is to spit the contents of her mouth all over herself, her chair, the floor and the hapless parent attempting to feed her.

Her most spiteful habit, however, is more recent. She will take an item of food we have left in front of her on her high chair tray, hold it over the side, look meaningfully at said hapless parent, and proceed to purposefully release the food item directly onto the floor.

While I can appreciate the dramatics of such a maneuver, it is a really proficient way of adding insult to injury.

Mealtimes are not our favorite.

Giggles

My mom and I were up late building an IKEA bookshelf. It is entirely normal to find things that are slightly amusing to be extraordinarily funny when one is tired.

When I announced that I had "better get screwing," I collapsed into a fit of gigles. My mom asked what was so funny and I replied that it was nothing. If she didn't get it, I wasn't going to explain it to her.

Several pieces of the hardware had slots in them, labled A and B. So when Mom mentioned something about the "A hole," we hooted simultaneously and couldn't stop grinning.

Ha ha.

No Fair

Why is it that my son will call me desperately to his bedside in the middle of the night only to ask me to get Daddy?

Innocence Personified

HP with the Chil'ns

(Taylor got his hair wet at the fountain on the way out of the park.)

Momma Avi

For Avi's birth last year, Aunt Lola (Kay) gave her her very first doll. I waited until this year's birthday to give it to her.

This pic is unbelievably adorable!

Daddy's Girl

This morning, I retrieved Avi from her crib only to have her reach for Daddy when he came into view. She promptly snuggled into his shoulder.

Everytime I would reach for her, she would retract into this snuggle position.

Daddy, resigned, allowed her to accompany him to the bathroom.

I Hate Gas

Picture this:

My car is completely out of gas, but not running on fumes or anything. I drive all the way home to use our local gas station.

There is a line-up.

Someone snags my gas pump right before I can pull in.

I finally get a pump. I go through all the hassle of swiping cards and pushing buttons. When the time comes for the nozzle to spew forth its fossily-fuel goodness, nothing.

So I wait for another pump.

Lost my debit card somewhere during this time. I have to order another one.

Use my credit card on the next pump.

Same problem.

I try pump number three.

Same problem.

What the heck?! Everyone else seems to be getting the pumps to work...

So I go all the way to another gas station.

Did I mention my kids are in the car?

New gas station. Same problem.

I go in to see the cashier, leaving my kids by themselves. (Legal??)

We work things out and I go home with a full tank of gas.

The End

Blogs

I actually got in trouble from my friend for not updating my blog! It's nice to know she's checking it. ;)

I took a break from blogging and reading blogs. Some people have missed me. Wow. :D

I'll try and catch up this weekend...

Sleep-walking

Several nights ago, I heard Taylor cry out from his bedroom. It sounded different from his usual whines. Checking on him revealed a little boy trying to walk through a wall to get to the bathroom! It was so hysterical! He just kept bumping into it!

I had a hard time keeping myself from laughing at the poor kid so Shawn took care of his urgency.

Contest of Wills

This evening, I delighted in witnessing a screaming contest between my two children. Averi is quite famous for her withering shrieks. And tonight, Taylor was not to be outdone.

Avi was under the impression that it was all a game. She would shriek at the top of her lungs for as long as possible and then Taylor would follow. Taylor's motivation, however, was not fun but exasperation. He can't tolerate Avi's shrieking anymore than we can.

And so, rather than attempting to dissuade the contesters by adding my own shriek to the din, I simply let them wear themselves out.

I just hope no one calls social services...